Nagaland: CM Rio visits landslide-hit NH-29, asks NHIDCL to expedite restoration works

Dimapur: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Thursday (September 5, 2024) visited the landslide-affected areas along the NH-29 connecting Dimapur with Kohima to take stock of the situation.

“Visited landslide-affected areas along NH-29 & took stock of the current situation,” Rio wrote on X.

The Chief Minister said he had reiterated to the authority concerned - the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) to expedite restoration works for regular vehicular movement.

The NHIDCL officials accompanied Rio during his visit.

Rio said the government would ensure that inconvenience to citizens is minimised and normalcy restored at the earliest. He told reporters the NHIDCL MD would visit the affected areas on September 8.

Six people were killed in a massive landslide along the highway at Pherima in Chumoukedima district late Tuesday (September 3, 2024) night.

Also Read: Manipur: Panic-stricken Nongshum villagers oppose deployment of central forces in police outpost

Besides Pherima, the landslides also struck the route at two other locations - Tseipama under Piphema and Pagala Pahar under New Chumoukedima, completely snapping communication between the state’s commercial hub Dimapur and state capital Kohima.

The landslide at Pherima damaged a number of houses, shops and vehicles.

Even as the NHIDCL took up restoration works on a war footing on Thursday (September 5, 2024), a large number of vehicles, especially goods-laden trucks, have been stranded along the highway since Tuesday night.

While light vehicles going from Dimapur to Kohima and vice versa are using the Niuland-Kohima route via Zhadima, heavy vehicles are not allowed to use the route due to safety concerns.